Is our society a just and fair one?
‘‘We placed 38th for health and wellbeing, covering neonatal mortality, suicide, mental health, drunkenness and teen pregnancy.’’
OPINION: Was Margaret Thatcher, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, correct in a 1987 speech when she declared, ‘‘There is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families?’’.
As one of the then leading proponents for neoliberal economics, her view is understandable.
A world in which the commodification of public assets for private profits was easy, would be nice for her and her political cronies.
She was wrong of course, human societies have come and gone ever since there were humans to come and go.
Also wrong is her expectation that the economic benefits of our society should accrue to only a few.
But the neoliberal agenda has remained, and despite the economic pragmatism of our current government, it is a strong driver of our society.
We see this in the policies of deregulation and free trade that results in GDP growth, and in the fiscal austerity that entrenches poverty.
Many will disagree that austerity is prevalent in our society. But they have only to look at the consequences of underfunding health care for austerity effects to be seen.
UNICEF’s Innocenti Report Card 14 records that of 41 developed countries, New Zealand placed 34th for each of children’s wellbeing and for economic growth and work.
We placed 38th for health and wellbeing, covering neonatal mortality, suicide, mental health, drunkenness and teen pregnancy.
These consequences of political policy are driven by under funding of the health sector and by high poverty levels.
They are not the outcomes sought by a just and fair society.
Addressing the poverty issue led Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei to disclose her historical benefit fraud.
She sees poverty as a social justice issue that has harmed, is harming and now looks liking continuing to harm people who are caught in a poverty trap.
She fronted up to that wrongdoing and the Green Party acknowledged it but support her disclosure despite the political risks of doing so.
Poverty is a societal issue so Ms Turei disclosed her own story in service to society.
Contrast that with Todd Barclay hiding away from the ignominy of his being caught out in a current wrongdoing.
Were he convicted, he would necessarily have been removed as a Member of Parliament.
His goal appeared to be ridding himself of a long-serving electorate staffer.
He and the National Party hid the affair for over 12 months, lied about their knowledge of the matter and expressed support for his actions.
Political longevity is not a societal issue so Mr Barclay hid his story in service to his own self.
In these differences, we can see which political parties seek to build a just and fair society.
John Allen is the director of Rural Connect, www.ruralconnect.org.nz www.smallWind.co.nz www.smallblock.org.nz
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